Combined Container and Building Block

Abstract

A container that may be used as a toy building block once it has served its purpose as a container for goods comprising: at least one male connector extending from one side of the container, a recess arranged to fittingly engage the male connector formed in a second side wall of the container, a neck upwardly extending from a top wall of the container, and a recess arranged to fittingly receive the neck formed in a bottom wall of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a hollow body portion formed of a plurality of side walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall;   a male connector outwardly extending from a first side wall;   a first recess formed in a second side wall, said first recess arranged to fittingly engage the male connector of a first like container;   a neck upwardly extending from the top wall; and   a second recess extending into the bottom wall, said second recess arranged to fittingly receive the neck of a second like container.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the neck is arranged to engage a cap and when the neck is engaged with said cap, the combined size and/or shape of the neck and the cap prevents the neck of the second like container from being received by the second recess, such that the neck of the second like container may only be received by the second recess when it is uncapped. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first recess is arranged to engage the male connector of the first like container by snapping together of said containers. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising four side walls wherein the male connector and the first recess are formed in opposing side walls. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the neck extends upward centrally from the top wall. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a substantially square shape along the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the neck is a threaded neck. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , in combination with a cap arranged to engage the neck of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 8 , further comprising a product contained within the hollow body portion of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the product is a liquid product. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the product is a bath product. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the bath product is selected from shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shower gel, foam bath, bubble bath, or liquid soap. 
     
     
         13 . A container comprising:
 a hollow body portion formed of a plurality of side walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall;   a male connector outwardly extending from a first side wall;   a first recess formed in a second side wall, said first recess arranged to fittingly engage the male connector of a first like container in a snap-fit manner effecting a locking together of said containers into a cohesive assembly; and an opening extending into a hollow interior of the hollow body portion for introduction or removal of contents to and from the container through the opening.   
     
     
         14 . A container comprising:
 a hollow body portion formed of a plurality of side walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall;   a neck upwardly extending from the top wall around a passage into a hollow interior of the body portion for pouring of contents from the container through the neck;   a cap engagable to and removable from the neck for selective closing and opening of the passage to the hollow interior of the body; and   a recess extending into the bottom wall, said second recess arranged to fittingly receive the neck of a like container only when the neck of the like container is uncapped.